Queensland mums changing the face of plus-size fitness wear

Queensland mums changing the face of plus-size fitness wear

Hannah Busch
eatures and Special Publications Editor
Hannah began writing for APN newspapers in Hervey Bay and Maryborough in 2011, writing about everything from the prize-winning sausages to murder trials. She joined the team at the Queensland Times in early 2014 as editor of City Heart and Roughin It magazines.

It's a fashion industry dominated by flat stomachs and posed photos that are meant to be all about #fitspo and #healthyliving.

But the industry's popular image has been accused of locking out women who don't fit the toned, taut Instagram ideal - and it's on that premise that Active Truth is gaining fans across Australia.

The Brisbane business was founded less than two years ago by Stevie Angel and Nadia Tucker.

The fitness fans created Active Truth while they were both on maternity leave because they saw a major gap in clothing as simple as fitness tights - there was nothing for pregnant women and little to nothing in larger sizes.

So, they decided to make their own. Active Truth stocks gear in sizes 6-26 and makes specially-designed exercise tights for pregnant women.

"We make it for everybody and it's really important to us that we have included everybody," Nadia said.

Both women have now left their old jobs to work on the business fulltime and one Brisbane factory manufacturers exclusively for them.

It's a long way from the two tub of tights that Stevie and Nadia began with in May 2016.

The company worked with plus-size and pregnant models to show off their gear and their social media pages are full of models who aren't represented on other fitness wear pages.

The inclusive sizing has had some unintended, if not entirely unexpected, effects.

"People write to us and say their life has changed," Nadia, a former lawyer, said.

"I still get blown away every day by the emails we get."

Stevie, who previously worked in communications, said feedback from women buying their tights had blown her away.

She said the popular image of picture-perfect models wasn't necessarily motivating for busy women who are trying to be active in a busy life.

"I've always, even as a teenager I guess, been bothered by the way that women put themselves down."

"Not just about how they look in size, but about how they're performing in their life.

"Women don't give themselves enough credit for what they're doing."

Aussie celebs have helped boost the brand. Zoe Foster-Blake gave them a shoutout in Instagram in a round-up of her favourite things that got her through her second pregnancy. Mia Freedman also recommended them in a podcast earlier this year.